About

$17,772

pledged of $13,000 goal

254

backers

Following the success of her previous Kickstarter campaign for the award winning film “And Nothing Happened”, about the aftermath of sexual assault director Naima-Ramos Chapman is proud to announce her second short film, PIU PIU, a psycho-surrealist thriller that explores one woman’s complicated relationship to routinized violence, romance, self and alienation.

FROM ME TO YOU:

PIU PIU is at once, deeply personal and very necessary. I made this film in contemplation of a fundamental question: Are we, as women, only to endure or evade the routinized machinations of patriarchy and domination politics, or is there another state of resistance that can guarantee a sustainable sense of freedom, as well as spiritual, physical and sexual freedom? I hope you’ll help me to bring this film to life, so we can explore this question together.

As a supporter, you’ll help make sure PIU PIU gets the post-production treatment it deserves. More widely, you’ll be contributing to a larger, much needed conversation about street harassment in a way that centers how women survive and resist violence while moving through the world as empowered beings.

So please, give what you can, tell who you can, and let's start this journey together.

Xx

Naima

Photo by Laurent Chevalier

WHY NOW:

The past few years have been truly volatile to endure––especially 2018. So many basic human rights have been put on the line, from Black Lives Matter, to the #MeToo movement, healthcare, to even LGBTQ and women’s rights. And as the men currently seated in power uproot pieces of these rights with every passing day, women are now more unsafe than ever –– so much so that one could be stalked in broad day light for hours, and no one will be there to save her. Now is the time for women to stand tall against injustices, and know that the road to redemption is ours alone to take and define.

What's the film about?

Based on actual events, PIU PIU is a psychological thriller that employs magical realism to examine the threats faced by women as they move through the world in their everyday lives. We follow Jordan, a young woman who chooses to shirk the safety of her relationship only to be confronted with the city's many dangers in a nightmarish series of events. Times Square, itself an epicenter of distraction and delight, provides the perfect backdrop for a narrative examining the themes of escape, alienation, and morality. By turning the damsel-in-distress trope squarely on its head, PIU PIU reveals a demonstrable truth: that every woman has the ability to be her own savior and redemption can be yours for the taking.

Photo by Laurent Chevalier

How can I help?

DONATE! Your contributions will help to make sure PIU PIU gets the post production treatment it deserves. More specifically:

1. Your support will help to ensure the creative team will be finally compensated for their incredible work.

3. Last but not least, we're applying to film festivals and submission fees are steep. These festivals are a critically important vehicle for ensuring PIU PIU gets to the wider audience it needs to make a social impact. Your contributions will help fund promotional and travel expenses.

What else can I do?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS - TELL EVERYBODY! We all know word of mouth is one of the most powerful forces on Earth. We’d love it if you spread the word.

FOLLOW US: Follow us on our journey!

Twitter: @NaimaRamChap

Instagram: @piupiufilm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piupiufilm

REWARDS

The "YOU ARE EMPOWERED" reward includes...

The "YOU INSPIRE" reward includes...

The "YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL" reward includes...

ABOUT ME & KICKSTARTER:

This is my second time partnering with Kickstarter to fund a film. My first film and directorial debut, And Nothing Happened, met and surpassed its goal in less than 2 weeks! It went on to tour multiple film festivals (winning the award for "Best Director" at the Tacoma Film Festival) and was met with rave reviews, which you'll see below.

"'And Nothing Happened' is the best short this writer has seen all year." -Scout Tafoya, No Film School

"[With 'And Nothing Happened'], we see the genesis of a very promising and very talented filmmaker, whose voice we so desperately need to hear." -FANDOR

This is all because of YOU! A million thanks to all who contributed to my previous campaign! And I hope you'll consider giving to PIU PIU - let's keep making films together!

PIU PIU CREATIVE TEAM:

NAIMA RAMOS-CHAPMAN // Writer-Director

Naima tells stories of transformation and understated bravery. Her stories stem from true events, incorporate magical realism, and seek to render psycho-spiritual realities we can not see alongside the mundanities and banal brutality of everyday life. Her first short, AND NOTHING HAPPENED, explores the psychological aftermath of sexualized violence and premiered at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival. It screened at L.A. Film Festival, BAMcinemafest, Blackstar Film Festival, Rooftop Films, Urbanworld, Tacoma Film Festival (where it won Best Director), to name a few. You can currently find her work on the HBO's Random Acts of Flyness, where she contributed as a writer, director, editor, and actor to the critically-acclaimed late night show.

TERENCE NANCE // Executive Producer

Terence is an artist born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He comes from a family of artists and artsy types. He is the creator of Random Acts of Flyness on HBO. He made the films An OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY (Sundance 2012) and Swimming in Your Skin Again (Sundance 2016). He also makes music, and installations, and friendships. Terence currently resides in Bed Stuy but that might not last too long because the rent is too damn high.

JASON HIGHTOWER // Producer

Jason has been in the film business for 10 years. The first two as a member of the DGA Trainee Program and the last 8 as a Assistant Director/ Producer hybrid in New York City. He worked on AMERICAN GANGSTER, TOP FIVE, SHELTER, and the newly released BURNING SANDS as well as the television shows SHADES OF BLUE, LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, and THE GET DOWN. Recently he was the Line Producer on the film SOLACE starring Lynn Whitfield and Glen Turman.

NATALIE CLUNIS // Production Manager

Natalie has 12 years of experience in television, film, and digital media. Her expertise includes studio/location shooting, production management, content development, digital strategy, and contract negotiation.

DAMANI POMPEY// Choreographer

Damani is a native of Brooklyn, NY. He had studied Shotokan karate for ten years before receiving his second degree black belt at age thirteen. Pompey attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Dance, graduating with The Stefanie Silverman Award under the direction of Michelle Mathesius. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory of Dance as an Adopt-a-Dancer in 2012. Pompey is currently a dance educator, freelance lighting designer, dancer, and choreographer based in NYC. Pompey has performed repertory by Paul Taylor, Kanji Segawa, Crystal Pite, Pedro Ruiz, Nathan Trice, Ronald K. Brown, Colleen Thomas, and Sarah Mettin amongst others. He has been commissioned for work at The Metropolitan Ballet Company (Philadelphia), The Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Montclair High School (New Jersey), Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, and was also commissioned to present an evening length work for DLab Dance Company (Shanghai, China) in September 2014. He has also presented work at The American Dance Guild. Two of Pompey's choreographed solos, "Felt" and "Whim" were awarded and recognized by the NFAA's YoungArts regional competition in January 2016. Pompey's latest choreographic endeavor includes choreography for musician, Gabriel Garzon-Montano's "Crawl," released by Stones Throw Records in February 2017.

ASHLEY ARTIS // Kickstarter Consultant

As the Programming & Engagement Manager, Ashley works to cultivate and deepen the Creative Time’s relationships with the communities connected to the organization’s public art projects. Prior to Creative Time, she functioned as Director of Development for an international non-profit organization; her work experience also includes positions in the fashion industry and time as Teach for America corps member in the Washington, D.C. region. Ashley received a BA in Political Science, with a concentration in American Government, from Duke University and an MA in Early Childhood Education: Curriculum & Instruction from George Mason University.

KASIA KRUK // Kickstarter Consultant

Kasia Kruk hails from Poland and is a New York-based crowdfunding strategist, social media manager, and film producer. As a producer, she worked on a stop-motion short film The HALLOWEEN PRANKSTA with Mark Hamill and award-winning films, such as NOTHING ABOUT CHLOE and GOOD BOY. Kasia has always been passionate about and dedicated to making the social impact with story-telling.

PIU PIU KEY CAST:

NATALIE PAUL

Natalie Paul is an actress and director, best known her roles on The Deuce (as Sandra Washington), Crown Heights (Antoinette), and Show Me a Hero (Doreen Henderson). Natalie graduated with a B.A. from Yale University, and studied acting at NYU Tisch School of the Art Graduate Program where she received her M.F.A.

JERMAINE SMALL

Jermaine studied Theater at Howard University, and is now a New-York based actor. Jermaine is also a writer and producer. He is best known for his roles on Crime Heights and Super Dave.

TRAE HARRIS

Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Trae knew from the age of 4 that she her destiny was in the entertainment industry. She began the road to fame modeling and competing in beauty pageants. Trae is now a performance best known for her roles in Orange is the New Black (Spitty) and the 2013 Sundance premiere Newlyweeds (Nina).

SANTANA BENITEZ

Chef, artist, actress and Air Force veteran, Santana studied at NYC's Institute of Culinary Education and is known for her time on the series, Chopped, her cookbook "I'll Cook Like Your Mother", and her role on Spike Lee's series She's Gotta Have It. She often works with a diverse range of clientele, is an advocate for women and directed an untitled documentary about the crisis in Puerto Rico.

Risks and challenges

We’ve minimized risks for investors by getting a lot of the work done in production. Now it’s time for post!

Your investment will go toward production completion. Here’s who we are continuing to work with in order to finish the film--and who needs to get paid:

As with many indie productions, scheduling time to get it all done on our self-imposed deadline is a challenge. As you can see above, the creative team has tons of know-how and experience on their side and we won’t let any potential setbacks stand in the way of completing the film and getting it into festivals.

Kickstarter is not a store.

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YOU INSPIRE

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Download Naima's handwritten and adorned artwork with her list of ten most important movies with the greatest female protagonists to watch before you die, plus your name in the credits